Vol.5, No. 20 – May 31, 2020
Leadership in a Time of Crisis — 2 Chronicles 26:15-16
In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, ’til he was strong. –2 Chronicles 26:15
You may not have met a man like this, but you certainly heard of one. A fast-tracker, upwardly mobile, counted among the movers and shakers of our day. He has the latest BMW, the latest iPhone, the latest AirMac, the latest iPod, the latest iPad . . . well, the latest everything.
However, this mover and shaker is from years ago.
When other teenagers were looking forward to getting their license to sit behind the reigns of a chariot, with the latest paint stripes, Uzziah is already sitting on the throne of Judah. All early indicators seem good. He seeks the Lord, and he allows Zechariah to instruct him in the fear of the Lord.
Well, this is impressive, is it not? Seems like things are turning to a right direction.
Uzziah comes out of the blocks like a rocket, and the impact is amazing.
- He subdues the nation’s enemies
- He rebuilds destroyed villages
- He is undefeated in battle
- Neighboring nations bring him tribute
- The defenses of the capital city, Jerusalem, are strengthened
- He puts together an intimidating military, well-trained, and well-equipped
Who could not like a leader like Uzziah? However, things go along that way, and then they change. They get worse.
It is a subtle change at first. Uzziah begins to read his own press clippings. Uzziah Cable News (UCN, the partner network station of CNN) broadcasts his approval ratings, sometimes hourly. He forgets the penned warning of a former occupant of the throne: The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise. –Proverbs 27:21
Uzziah forgets to acknowledge he has received a gracious amount of help; he acknowledges it to a point. However, somewhere along the way, seeking God lost its priority. When he came to a fork in the road, he simply took one. Uzziah never denied God; he just demotes Him. When that subtle shift occurs, the downhill slide begins.
Power plus position creates an avalanche of pride—people rush to get out of its way.
Life Application
Mark it well! The great hindrance to our future success is our past success. The very thing that can keep us from being used by God is to forget that we have been used by God, in the past.
How critical to remember what Uzziah forgets.
Evidently, the believers in Corinth went totally brain dead in this area as well. Paul had to remind them.
So, neither he who plants, nor he who waters, is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 3:7, 4:7)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. –James 1:17
Leadership in a time of crisis is always available—if we would but ask our Almighty God!
